KARACHI, May 12: The National junior boxing championship starts on Friday at Karachi Port Trust (KPT) Sports Complex. Organizers said altogether 12 teams had been invited, but so far four provinces, Railways, Wapda and KPT had confirmed their participation.

The competition, to be participated by pugilists between 17 and 19 years of age, will also serve as trial to select Pakistan team for the June 20 to 25 Asian junior championship scheduled to be organized at the same venue.

However, Pakistan Boxing Federation (PBF) will rely on birth certificates for determining the age which may cause problems during the Asian championship.

The vice-president of the PBF, Shah Naeem Zafar, said while the federation would demand the boxers to provide birth certificates for determining the age for the national championship, wrist X-ray test could be held before the Asian contest.

The official agreed that separate criteria for age verification could make things complicated, but added usually birth certificate was the only document to determine age before any national tournament.

“For international tournaments, organizers usually demand passports for age verification, but bone test could also be done.”